Flexible molding strip



Feb. 13, 1951 K. M. KELLER FLEXIBLE MOLDING STRIP Filed July 5, 1948INVENTOR. KENNETH M KEL LEI? Ma ozwoz ATTOZA/C Y6,

Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present improvements, relating generally as indicated to a flexiblemolding strip, are more particularly concerned with a sealing stripadapted for installation at the juncture of two surfaces for coveringcracks thereat or cracks which may subsequently develop.

In bathrooms, for example, cracks invariably develop at the intersectionof the wall and bathtub surfaces, such cracks not only being unsightlybut permitting harmful seepage of moisture into the wall structure withresulting rotting and weakening thereof and emanation of foul odorstherefrom. One common practice is to periodically putty. or caulk suchcracks, such practice, of course, being only a temporary solution to'theproblem. Furthermore, such filling of the cracks is a painstakingoperation requiring painting or other finishing in order to match theadjoining surfaces.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this in vention to provide aflexible molding strip which is formed so that it may be securelyattached at the intersection of surfaces such as the aforesaid. IAnother object is to provide a strip which is sufficiently flexible toaccommodate subsequent further enlargement of the cracks coveredthereby.

Another object is to provide a strip which is sufficiently flexible andof shape such that it may be turned over sharp external corners withoutrequiring cutting or mitering and may be turned into relatively shortradius internal corners with only a half miter out.

Another object is to provide a strip of cross section to provide aclearance at the intersection in which installed so that theintersection need not be sharp and free from irregularities.

Another object is to provide a strip of an interlocking form whereby topresent a maximum adhesive surface with the adhesive locked therein soas to assure an inseparable bond between the strip and the surfaces towhich the same is adapted to be cemented.

Another object is to provide a unique method of installing the stripwhich assures a leakproof joint thereof with the intersecting surfacesto which it is adapted to be applied.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following de- 'scription andthe annexed drawing setting forth in detail one illustrative embodimentof the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of thevarious ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical corner bathtub with the stripconstituting the present invention disposed at the intersection of thetub surfaces with the bathroom walls;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross section on an enlarged scale of the stripand the adjoining surfaces to which it is cemented;

Fig. 3 illustrates a miter fitting of the strip in sharp internalcorners; and

Fig. 4 illustrates a half miter fitting of the strip into a small radiusinternal corner.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the numeral I denotes a typicalcorner bath tub intersecting the walls 2 and 3 of the bathroom. When thetub I is initially installed the walls 2 and 3 are, of course, finishedoff so as to meet the tub surfaces but because of subsequent settling,shrinkage and presence of moisture and steam at the intersection of theWalls with the tub, cracks invariably develop at such intersections,which cracks if not promptly taken care of will progressively becomelarger and more unsightly permitting seepage of moisture into the walls.

In order to cover and seal such intersections and the cracks thereat orcracks which may later develop, the strip 4 constituting the presentinvention is cemented to the intersecting surfaces, said strip beingformed with flanges 5 and 6 having their rear and bottom facesrespectively cemented to the adjoining surfaces. Said flanges 5 and 6are preferably of diminishing thickness toward their outer edges, asbest shown in Fig. 2, and are joined together by relatively thinnerintermediate section 1 which forms a flexible fillet. Ihe flanges 5 andii extend toward the intersection of the wall and tub surfaces beyondthe'intermediate section '5 and terminate short of the intersection tthus define lips 8 and 9 which with the section 7 form an interlockingrecess i for adhesive, such recess preferably being of the dovetailform, as shown, in order to effectively resist separation of the stripfrom the Wall and tub surfaces. Such intermediate section 7, as isapparent, provides for subsequent relative movement of the flanges 5 and5 as occasioned by relative movement of the surfaces to which suchflanges are cemented.

The strip 5 is preferably made of a flexible plastic material such aspolyvinyl chloride, it being understood that other vinyl poly blends mayalso be used as well as rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastics,elastomers, copolymers, etc., the selection of any particular one beingin accordance with the use to which the strip is to be put. In thepresent case the strip is of a water and alkali resistant material. Onedesirable property of the material from which the strip is made is thatit be sufiiciently flexible so that when it is once applied it may yieldand follow any subsequent relative movement of the intersecting surfacesand therefore even though cracks covered thereby may subsequently becomelarger, the strip will not require further attention in order topreserve the neatness and sealing efficiency of the surface junction inwhich it is disposed. The strip should also be of material sufficientlyflexible that the flanges 5 and 6 may stretch even over sharp externalcorners thereby eliminating the necessity for cutting the strip andspecially fitting it over such corners.

The wall and tub contacting faces H and 12 of the flanges of said stripare preferably at an angle of about 135 so that when the strip isinstalled at intersections of less angle, usually 90, the resilience ofthe material will tend to hold such faces in yieldable contact with theintersecting surfaces. However, insofar as the primary features of thisinvention are concerned, such faces may be at any desired angle betweenand 180, for example.

One method of installing the strip 4 comprises:

(1) Thoroughly cleaning and drying the wall and tub surfaces;

(2) Thinly and evenly spreading a vinyl base adhesive or other adhesivecompatible with the material from which the strip is made onto the walland tub surfaces covering an area approximating that of each flange and6 and allowing the same to thoroughly dry;

(3) Applying a second coat of adhesive to said surfaces and when theadhesive is in a tacky condition pressing the strip into place as withthe thumb or forefinger. Forty-eight hours should be allowed forthorough drying. Excess cement may be removed as with a naphtha solvent.

Another method of applying the strip which produces even better resultsthan the above-outlined procedure comprises:

(1) Cleaning and drying the wall and tub surfaces;

(2,) Applying adhesive to the wall. and tub surfaces and allowing thesame to dry;

(3) Applying as with a brush applicator or the like an even coating ofadhesive to the faces ii and i2 and in the recess 29' of the strip andallowing the same to dry; and

(4) Applying a second coat of cement to the wall and tub urfaces andwhen tacky pressing the strip into place. The excess cement may then beremoved with a rag dampened with nail polish remover or lacquer thinnerby rubbing lightly on the strip and the wall and tub surfaces. Thisrubbing further assures a water-tight sealing point at the edges of theflanges 5 and 6.

In the exemplary installation in Fig. 1, if the strip is started at thepoint l3 the same may be turned over the corners i i and i5 withoutcutting or mitering, the strip being sufficiently flexible that theflanges 5 and 5 thereof will stretch and continuously engage the walland tub surfaces. However, at internal corners such as at I6 it may benecessary to provide either a full miter H, as shown in Fig. 3, if thecorner is relatively sharp, or a half miter l8 madeas by cutting a notchin the, flange lying in the plane of the bend if the corner is radiusedas shown in Fig. 4.

The strip 4 is preferably white in color but obviously may be made inany desired color to match or harmonize with the color scheme of theroom.

In the present case, the strip 4 seals and covers cracks at the junctionof the tub and wall surfaces thereby preventing steam and water fromentering the cracks and causing damage to the woodwork and plasterwalls. The strip may be applied to porcelain, wood, plaster, plastictile, enamel, paper, and other types of surfaces in bathrooms and otherrooms.

Although the strip 5 has been particularly described with reference touse in a bathroom as a seal between the wall and tub surfaces it mayalso be installed between the floors and the tub or around any otherfixture in the bathroom. It may also be used as a trim or decoration inother rooms and may be painted over if desired. In any case, it willserve to neatly cover corner joints and any cracks which may developtherein, the flexible nature of the strip rendering the samecontinuously neat and effective to perform its intended functions.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described provided the featuresstated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, beemployed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A flexible molding strip comprising two flanges adapted, to becemented to adjacent intersecting surfaces, an intermediate concavesecticn joining such flanges at their inner edges and disposed to coverbut be out of contact with the intersection of the surfaces, and lipssubstantially coextensive with said flanges lengthwise thereof andextending from the junctions of said flanges with said intermediatesection toward the intersection to thus define an interlocking recessfor cement for securing said strip to the intersecting surfaces, saidlips lying in planes substantially coinciding with the respectiveflanges and likewise adapted to be cemented to the adjacent intersectingsurfaces, said strip being of rubber-like material of flexibility suchthat when said flanges and lips are cemented to adjacent intersectingsurfaces said intermediate section may yield to permit said flanges andlips to remain in fixed position cemented to the adjacent.

surfaces upon relative movement of the surfaces.

2. A flexible molding strip comprising two flanges adapted to becemented to adjacent intersecting surfaces, an intermediate concavesection joining such flanges at their inner edges and disposed to coverbut be out of contact with the intersection of the surfaces, and lipssubstantially coextensive with said flanges lengthwise thereof andextending from the junctions of said flanges with said intermediatesection toward the intersection to thusdefine an interlocking recess forcement for securing said strip to the intersecting surfaces, said lipslying in planes substantially coinciding with the respective flanges andlikewise adapted to be cemented to the adjacent intersecting surfaces,said strip being of rubber! like material of flexibility such that whensaid flanges and lips are cemented to adjacent intersecting surfacessaid intermediate section may yield to permit said flanges and lips toremain in fixed position cemented to the adjacent surfaces upon relativemovement of the surfaces, said intermediate, section. being relativelythinner, in cross-section than said flanges are at the junctions of.said flanges with said intermediate section.

3. A flexible molding strip of rubber-like material comprising twoangularly related flanges disposed to flex transversely to follow thecontour of adjacent intersecting surfaces to which said flanges arerespectively adapted to be cemented, the adjacent edges of said flangesbeing spaced apart and disposed relatively close to the intersection ofthe surfaces, each flange from one edge to the other presenting arelatively large area for firm cementing in place to the respectivesurface, and an intermediate concave yielding fillet section joiningsuch flanges at points beyond such adjacent edges but relatively closerto such adjacent edges than to the other edges whereby to define aninterlocking recess and clearance space for cement for further securingsaid strip in place to the intersecting surfaces.

KENNETH M. KELLER.

,. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Modern Plastics (The GraftonArticle), Sept. 1944, pp. 103 and 194.

